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Poison Information

The Texas Poison Center Network is made up of six regional Poison Centers and each one has a full-time education program dedicated to reducing the incidence of unintentional poisonings and to increase awareness of the Poison Center's services.

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The Network provides a 24-hour, 365 days a year, emergency telephone number resource for all Texas citizens. If you need assistance, simply dial 1-800-222-1222 for access to a 24-hour toxicology referral service staffed by specially trained physicians, pharmacists, and nurses.

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Spiders

There are so many spiders in this world and most are good spiders that eat a lot of bad bugs. If you see a spider, don’t touch it. Go ask if you can get a camera and take a picture of it. You can start a collection of photos of spiders you have seen.

Tarantulas are kind of big spiders, but they are gentle. If you don’t bother them, they won’t hurt you. Don’t poke a stick at him. Don’t throw rocks at him. He will think you are trying to hurt him. He can jump and bite you. It is much better to take his picture.

Black widow spiders are black and have a big black shiny belly. They stay on their web and don’t usually crawl on the floor. They have a red spot on their belly that usually looks like an hourglass. They are very venomous and can make you sick. Don’t touch them, just go get an adult.

Brown Recluse spiders are brown. Their belly can be dark brown or light brown. They have a fiddle (violin) shaped mark on the back of their head. Most people never see them, but if they bite you, they can make a sore on your body and you may need to go to the doctor.

The information provided in this website is offered for general informational and educational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute medical advice. While we try to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy or reliability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website.
Texas Poison Center Network